Chapter 1:
I walk slowly through Nimbasa Airport, dragging my suitcase along behind me. I am tired after the long flight from Lumiose City and the long waits at either end. I don't really know where I'm going. I'm just taking my time and hoping that when I find the exit there's a man next to a car holding a sign with my name on. If I have to make my own way to the hotel then my long day is going to get even longer.
My train of thought is interrupted as someone bumps into me. I stop walking and regain my balance. I angrily look ahead to see the person who had bumped into me casually strolling away. He looks like a boy. Some sort of teenager who probably thinks he owns the place and has no regard for the people around him. I then realise that there's something wrong. I quickly frisk my pockets to confirm what I suspected. My passport is gone.
"Hey!" I shout after the boy.
Heads turn to look in our direction and I expect the boy to make a run for it. I am prepared to chase him. However, he stops walking. He lifts his arms to reveal that he is in fact holding my passport. He flicks through it as though it were a flipbook cartoon before slamming it shut. With the flick of the wrist, he throws the passport back to me and I desperately scramble to catch the small book in my arms.
"Nice to meet ya, Holly," he says and turns slightly to reveal a cheeky grin on his face.
"What do you think you're playing at?" I ask apprehensively, not sharing his mood about the situation.
"The name's Robin Harper," he says, "I saw you on the plane, you're wearing a Battle Gear and heading to Nimbasa, so I thought I'd say hi."
"So, you're…" I begin, but I'm unsure how to word the rest of my question.
I think he understands what I'm trying to ask though as he turns to face me properly. He seems like your average teenager in general appearance: trainers, trousers that are too big and a t-shirt over a long sleeved shirt because that's apparently a fashionable thing to do. His hair is a mess of black sticking out from beneath his rather silly hat and his devious smile doesn't seem like fading any time soon.
He raises his left arm and tugs at his sleeve. He too is wearing a Battle Gear. That answers my question. He must also be a participant in the tournament. I detect a North Kalosian accent in his voice. It makes sense that the participants from Kalos would be on the same flight. I wonder if there were any others.
"Yeah, we're rivals now," he says, "Now, come on!"
Robin grabs my arm and pulls me along, I quickly grab the handle of my suitcase as he breaks out into a jog. I flail about in an awkward run as my arms are pulled in both directions, one by Robin leading me off somewhere and the other gripping to my belongings. Robin drags me through the airport and I barely have chance to see where we're going.
"Where are we going and don't you have a bag?" I ask between breaths.
"Bus," he calls back to me, "There's an hourly bus service that goes to all the hotels in Nimbasa. I've already been there to drop off my bag since you're so slow."
I try to wave my hand to smack his arm out of annoyance but barely make contact. Soon, we exit the airport and arrive at a row of buses and coaches. Robin stops, seemingly trying to remember which bus it was, giving me chance to recover. I get my breath back and decide to change which hand I pull the suitcase with. My hand is starting to get sore. Without warning, Robin sets off again.
"It's over here," he calls out.
"Why can't you slow down?" I ask exasperatedly.
I haul my suitcase along and follow the energetic boy. He definitely has more stamina than I do. This is killing me. Fortunately, it isn't far to our bus. Robin doesn't really stop though, he jumps straight up onto the steps inside the door of the bus and turns back to see where I am. A man I assume is the driver is leaning against the front of the bus drinking from a can. I can't see what the can is, his large and sweaty hand covers the logo. I just have to hope it's some kind of caffeine or energy drink. He turns and looks at me as I approach.
"Nimbasa hotels?" he asks with a rough voice that sounds like it has been destroyed by years of smoking.
I nod. I assume following Robin was the right idea and there aren't people holding signs with our names on waiting for us parked somewhere else. The driver slams his can down on a bollard next to him and hauls his massive body away from the bus. I freeze in place at the sight of the man lumbering towards me with such speed. He barges past me and grabs my suitcase, lifting it in the air like it's nothing and tossing it the luggage store of the bus. I cringe slightly, trying to think if there was anything remotely fragile in my bag.
"You coming or not?" Robin snaps me out of it and I follow him onto the bus.
The bus is mostly full already and I have to sit on a spare seat on the opposite side of the aisle to Robin. I normally wouldn't mind where I sit, but I want to stick close to Robin. He seems to know what's going on. If he doesn't, then things could go very bad very quickly. I end up seated next to an old man who is asleep and resting against the window. He isn't wearing a Battle Gear and I wouldn't expect him to have one at all. I wonder how many of the people on this bus do have one though. I try to look around at the other passengers but it's too difficult to see anyone's wrists without appearing to be really weird. There's no guarantee the other participants are even wearing their Battle Gears yet. I have mine on as I discovered there is a setting for battling against people without one so kept it on in case I found myself battling at some point. Thus far, there had been no need for it.
I spend the journey looking out the windows and taking in the sights of Nimbasa City. I had expected for Robin to keep talking to me. Instead, he was giving earache to whichever poor soul sat next to him. Every so often I could hear his voice get louder or his arms flail about into the aisle as he told numerous stories with dramatic style.
Nimbasa City is like one big holiday destination. Everything in the city is lit up even during the day and seems geared towards tourists and sports fans. Local sports teams and their players take pride of place on billboards throughout the city whether they're advertising themselves or some kind or product. I am surprised to see very little attention given to the local Gym Leader and supermodel Elesa. Perhaps she is getting too old to be as appealing as in her prime a few years back.
Even though I am from the quiet country town of Camphrier, Nimbasa City isn't a culture shock. Lumiose City is close by and a necessity to visit for shopping beyond essentials so I'm familiar with big cities. Still, visiting a foreign city for the first time is definitely a different experience.
We stop every so often and the driver announces the hotel's name in his raspy voice. People filter off and reclaim their bruised belongings from the luggage hold. I get glimpses of the hotels through the windows, each one seems more extravagant than the last. If this trend continues, I am looking forward to seeing where I'm staying. I also regularly glance at the old man sleeping next to me. He has been asleep the entire time so could easily have missed his stop and not know. I consider waking him but always decide against it.
Eventually, we arrive at the Stadium Park Hotel. I think this is my stop. It's the only name I recognise. I left all the information in my suitcase which I can't access. I look to Robin for confirmation and he is standing up. I get up as well and start assessing the other people who are getting off. There is a wide variety of people. I notice a girl with Poké Balls strapped to her arm. Definitely a trainer. I have to stop trying to figure everyone out and actually focus on what I'm doing though.
"Are you here for the World Championships too?" someone asks.
I turn to see a tall boy with neat brown hair sorting something out in a rucksack on the floor. He looks up at me through a pair of huge round glasses. He is distracting me while the driver is trying to fish my bag from the pile.
"No, the other pink one, it should say Wexler on the label," I say as the driver thrusts a suitcase towards me.
"Huh?" the boy sounds confused and looks at me oddly.
"Sorry, not you," I say, "Yes I am… That's not pink!"
I sigh and go over to the luggage hold. I point to a case that had fallen onto its side near the back having finally spotted it myself. The driver looks at me disapprovingly and then climbs in to fetch it. When he tosses the case out onto the floor next to me, I glare at him before lifting it onto its wheels and dragging it away. I return to the boy who had tried to start a conversation and apologise again.
"Sorry about that, yeah, I'm also here for the tournament," I say, trying to hide how enraged I currently am by the driver.
"He's probably just like that because he's tired or something," the boy says and briefly glances towards the driver, "I'm Elin Reynold by the way."
Elin extends an arm to offer a handshake and I take it.
"Holly Wexler," I introduce myself.
Elin is roughly the same height as me, but is clearly younger than me. There is a youth about his blue eyes, though I expect they've seen plenty if he's got this far. The other competitors I've met so far have been quite young. I assume there will be a grizzled old veteran somewhere on the tournament line up, just they're probably less likely to approach a young woman such as myself in public.
Elin and I make our way into the hotel gates. Robin is nowhere to be seen. The hotel is a rather grand tower building made of stone. Every floor is lined with balconies. Below, I can see a swimming pool and outdoor restaurant nearby. I hadn't thought to bring swimwear. It was probably mentioned in the brochure as well. Just my luck. Hopefully there wouldn't be much time for swimming with all the battles to come. We enter the hotel and arrive in a large marble entrance hall. We approach the oak reception desk and dump our bags on the ground along with everyone else. There are two receptionists on duty.
"Guests staying with Elder Industries, please queue here. Regular guests queue for my colleague," the woman on the left hand side of the desk stands up and points to the assigned places.
I look to Elin and then go over to where the woman said to wait. Robin was stood just in front of me in the queue, recounting the tale of a battle with a girl's Dedenne to the person in front of him. Each person in the queue was asked their name, given a room key and then told to report back here for a meeting at seven tonight. The meeting is probably going to be an introduction for the competitors and a chance to meet each other. Until then, I want to get some rest and relax without being in a moving vehicle.
Seven arrives fairly quickly. I had fallen asleep on the double bed in my room almost as soon as I'd entered the room. I make my way back down to reception to find a large group lingering at reception. Elin is amongst them so I go over. Most people seem to be chatting, but one dark haired man seems to be stood away from the group and not looking too happy about the situation. I am about to go over to talk to him when I hear Robin shout.
"Sorry I'm late," he cries out and jogs over to join the group.
"Oh, it's him," Elin says, "He stole my room key earlier."
"I gave it back," Robin laughs as he joins us.
"Is pickpocketing your way of saying hello?" I ask.
"Pretty much," he grins at us with that cheeky smile of his.
"Good, I was worried it was a party trick to try and chat me up," I say, sounding a lot more relieved than I intended to.
"Ha, never thought of that, did it work?" Robin asks.
"Not in the slightest," I sigh.
Robin looks like he's about to respond but is cut off by someone ringing a bell on the reception desk. Everyone falls silent and turns to see a man in a business suit stood in front of the desk. I then realise that the man is Raymond.
"Now that you're all gathered here, we can begin. If you'd all follow me, please," Raymond says and begins to walk away.
The group of Pokémon trainers follows Raymond through the hotel at various paces. Though we all seem to be sticking in small friend circles that have started developing. We are led to a conference room which we file into and stand around. A couple of people take seats at the long meeting table without being invited to. A person is already waiting for us with their back turned. Once all sixteen of us are in the room, Raymond leaves and closes the door behind him.
"Welcome," the person says. The man, dressed in a pristine white suit with a white cape draped over his shoulders, turns to face us. He ensures his wavy brown hair is not out of place before looking at each of us. "What a fine group. The sixteen greatest trainers the world has to offer. You were our first choices and you all qualified and accepted. My grand tournament will be the greatest competition the world has seen and one of you… one of the sixteen people in this room will be named as the greatest Pokémon trainer in the world. A World Champion. A Pokémon Master."
The man holds his arms out wide as though to embrace the whole room. A warm smile rests on his face. It looks like it is a genuine pleasure for him to see us all gathered together.
"Question, is there a bar?" a scruffy looking man, one of the oldest people in the room, asks.
"Please leave all questions until the end," the man in white says, his smile fading slightly, "Now, for the unfamiliar, my name is Lancelot Elderidge. I am the CEO of Elder Industries, the organiser of this grand event and the inventor of the Battle Gear which I see a number of you are already wearing. That is good to see."
Lancelot pauses and reaches into his suit jacket to pull out a small remote. He presses a button and the lights in the room dim, he presses another and a projector above him flickers to life and shines onto the wall behind him.
"Tomorrow, the first round shall begin," Lancelot says, "There will be four matches tomorrow and four the day after. Those competing are to report to reception at nine in the morning to travel to the stadium. Those not competing on the particular day are free to come along to watch, stay at the hotel and view the television coverage or amuse themselves."
Sixteen names and faces appear on the screen behind Lancelot. With another button press, the names and faces move around the screen to organise themselves into a tournament bracket. Everyone stares intently at the screen to see who they are paired with. People then look around the room for their opponents. I simply continue staring at the screen in horror. It's typical. I have to face one of the two people I've actually talked to. First game of the first round, Holly Wexler vs Elin Reynold.
AN: Managed a chapter a bit faster than I expected. I also got enough OCs, 8 for those wondering. So I won't be accepting any more. But never fear, the first chapter has introduced 2 and given brief appearances to another 3. I hope you enjoy it.